“Jim Matthews,” her father said, pumping Noah’s hand. “And this is my wife, Erma.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Noah told her parents. “I don’t want to intrude, so after I talk with Callie for a bit, I’ll just find the closest hotel. But I meant it when I said I could help.”
“You’ll not stay at a hotel,” her mother scolded. “We may be down a bedroom because of the roof, but we still have the bedroom in the basement. You’re more than welcome to stay here. Are you hungry? We just had dinner and there’s some left over.”
Noah shook his head, smile still in place. “No, ma’am. I grabbed something when my plane landed.”
As Noah cha
rmed her parents, Callie stood frozen. Noah Foster was in her living room talking to her parents as if he belonged here.
Her father’s voice broke into her thoughts. “Callie, honey, why don’t you show Noah the bedroom he can use downstairs?”
“Of course.” She moved around the group and headed down the narrow hallway. “Come on, Noah. We can talk down here.”
She opened the basement door and flicked on the light to descend the steps. Once she hit the bottom, she turned on another light that illuminated the bedroom.
“It’s pretty bare,” she told him when he joined her. “We don’t usually have company. My bedroom is out of commission, so I’ll be taking the couch.”
He jerked his head toward her. “Couch? I’ll just go to a hotel, or I can take the couch.”
Callie shook her head. “Don’t be silly. You’re here and this room is all yours…unless you want something fancier.”
Noah dropped his bag on the worn carpet and stepped closer. “Callie, I think you know me well enough by now to realize that I’m not a snob. I didn’t fly all this way to be pampered or treated like a socialite. I came to help you in any way I can. I know you are here to help your parents. I care for you and I’m here for you. Don’t shut me out because you’re ashamed of where you came from.”
Callie looked away, unable to hold his gaze.. He tapped beneath her chin with his finger until she looked up at him.
“Now, instead of the couch or the hotel, why don’t we just share this room?”
“Because I’m not shacking up with you while my parents are in the same house.”
Noah laughed. “You think they are unaware that you’re not a virgin?”
“I’m sure they know I’m not, but still.”
He quirked a brow. “Still what? I want you in bed with me, Callie. We can…talk. That way tomorrow we will be ready to tackle whatever needs to be done.”
On a groan, Callie reached up with one hand and toyed with his dark hair. “I can’t believe you flew all this way to help me when you don’t even know what you’re helping with.”
He shrugged. “I assume it has something to do with that big blue tarp on the house?”
“Yeah.” She sighed. “The storm the other night took off a portion of the roof that was over my bedroom.”
“So they need a new roof? What’s the cost?”
“Dad has a friend who will help him replace the roof, but the materials are still so costly.” Callie dropped her hand and picked up Noah’s bag, placing it on the small dresser. “I plan to go to the bank tomorrow to see about a small loan to help them. I’m not sure if I can get one, but I know that my credit is better than theirs, and with my dad still unemployed—”
“You need to relax,” he told her. “This will all work out. Why don’t you go take a bath and read a book? I know you love to read.”
Callie smiled. “I would love to go be lazy for a few minutes, but I’m not leaving you alone with my parents.”
He moved toward her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Why? Afraid they’ll pull out the baby pictures or embarrassing school photos?”
“To be honest, yes.” She slid her hands up his arms. “You wouldn’t recognize the girl I used to be.”
Noah’s lips softly touched hers before he pulled her into a warm embrace. “I’m sure the same loving, caring, bright spirit would be looking back at me in those pictures.”
Callie inhaled the sexy, masculine aroma that she’d become familiar with since being with Noah. “You may be surprised.”